Schools Out But Learning Continues for Douglas County Teachers

School may be out for the summer, but that hasn’t stopped Douglas County educators from adding to their repertoire in preparation for the next school year.  On June 6th and 7th, the Douglas County School System (DCSS) held their 2nd annual Teacher & Counselor Externship, in partnership with the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce and Douglas County Economic Development Authority.

DCSS recognizes the importance of preparing students for life after high school. The Externship focuses on providing educators the opportunity to develop connections with professionals and businesses across Douglas County. The Douglas County School System believes students will directly benefit as their teachers and counselors gain exposure to the workplace and increase their awareness of current labor market trends. During each component of the Externship,  educators learned first-hand about employer’s expectations and the skills students need to succeed in different industries.

The 19 participants from elementary, middle and high schools also connected with professionals related to their subject areas to help them connect classroom material to the real-world setting. The Externship offered these educators rich professional learning opportunities that will ultimately enhance their subject matter expertise and inspire new teaching strategies.

Kristian Cooper State Farm, Gordon Foods, Medline, Fastenal, JW Pepper, GreyStone Power, Georgia Highlands College, Dr. Dimitri Arfanakis of Douglas Dental Care, Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority, Springhill Suites Six Flags/Atlanta, Members First Credit Union and Douglas County Tourism were among businesses supporting the teachers through the June Externship.